Landa Restaurant & Grill

It’s a very simple-looking place from the outside. They remodeled the interior 2-3 years ago and, although it’s still quite small for the quantity of people trying to make reservations, the modern touchups give the dining room a nice feel. The remodeling was necessary.

There are two dining areas. Once you enter the restaurant, there’s a small bar where they make the coffees and once you go through the door and down the steps, you’ll find the bigger and more intimate room, with a much friendlier atmosphere.

The service is simple and friendly at all times. The owners have been working there for many year and they treat you like a member of their own family. They serve you the fish themselves, which is a very nice touch. They work with these ingredients each day and know how to prepare the food on their menu better than anyone, so you trust them. When they serve you themselves, you know you’re going to really enjoy your meal.

The menu is large and varied. They often have special dishes that aren’t on the fixed menu, depending on the season. They’ll tell you about any specials when they bring you the menu. Make sure to pay attention to them, they tend to be spectacular.
I’d personally recommend sharing various appetizers/entrees, to try a little bit of everything and then have one of their grilled fish dishes.

Among the entrees, the peppered tuna (ventresca), the mushrooms and foie with egg yolk, the lobster cocktail, the Galician-style octopus, and the grilled shrimp are great, as I’m sure the rest are too.

As for the fish... the sea bass and the turbot are exquisite. They are maestros as cooking these dishes to perfection. The red bream is also marvelous. In any case, it’s a safe bet to choose any of the grilled fishes they offer, served just with the juices and a bit of garlic.

You don’t have to forget about the meat, either. The trademark Landa chop has a well-deserved reputation, although I’d personally go with a fish dish. The wine menu is also very extensive.

Even though Mendaro isn’t a coastal town, it’s pretty close to it. You can tell the products are of exceptional quality. In addition to the quality, the cooks know how to prepare each dish and cook them to perfection on the grill.

If you’re still hungry after the meal, the homemade desserts are a delight. The great and ever-powerful Mendaro chocolate is served in a variety of manners. The “pantxineta” pie (typical in Euskadi), the cheesecake with raspberry marmalade and the Mendaro with chocolate “soup” are all delicious.

In summary, if you are in the Bajo Deba area and you are looking for a true gastronomic delight, the Landa de Mendaro steakhouse is your answer, with its simple presentation and amazing food. I’m sure whoever goes will leave fully satisfied due to the quality of the food and the geniuses working the grills.

PS: Don’t be surprised if the cook shows up at the end of your meal and asks how everything was, or even if he sparks up a conversation about football.